Sunlight landed on my face, forcing me awake. I screwed my eyelids tighter together, softly grunting. As my body awoke, I became more aware of my surroundings. I definitely wasn't in my own home or in my bed. There were no strong scents of herbs, so I wasn't in The Great Tree. It wasn't until I felt another body next to me and smelled the familiar scent of leather and sage when my memories caught up with me.

I smiled to myself, my heart bursting with warmth. Right, I'm with Chrom. We're at his place. I opened one eye, peaking at the sleeping prince - my mate. He looked so calm and peaceful, with one arm outstretched that I was using at a pillow and the other holding me close. His skin was cool yet somehow warm against mine, hardly an inch of space between us. The sun peeking through the window hardly bothered me anymore. It appeared to be just after dawn, as the sun wasn't fully up.

His soft breaths and gently beating heart were like a sweet lullaby. I snuggled closer to my mate, pressing my forehead against his chest and allowing my eyes to close once more. His warmth and the soft blanket covering us did wonders to block out the cold.

Last night wasn't a dream... He actually loves me! And we're mates! Gods, this almost feels too good to be true... Here I am: laying in bed with the Ylissean Prince who is also the love of my life. My mate. My mate, my mate, my mate.

I laid still for a few minutes, sleep almost finding me again before Chrom began to stir. He drew in a deep breath, exhaling into my hair. The arm that was acting as my pillow pulled away only to wrap around me and hug me tighter. He mumbled something sleepily, pressing his lips against my forehead.

I couldn't suppress a grin, opening my eyes to greet him. "Good morning," I whispered, resting a hand on his jaw.

He placed his hand on mine, kissing my wrist. "Good morning," he whispered back, voice thick with sleep. "Have you been up a while?"

"Only a few minutes, not very long," I replied.

A low rumble sounded deep in his throat as he pressed his forehead against mine. "You should have woken me, then."

I couldn't suppress a tired giggle. "But you looked so peaceful while sleeping! I didn't want to disrupt your precious rest!"

He playfully pecked me on the nose. "Nothing is more precious to me than my mate," he hummed.

My face flushed at his words. This is the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with... The man who I love with all of my heart. I love him as Anna, not just as my mate.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" he asked, beginning to pepper my face with sleepy butterfly kisses.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly feeling dry. "Just...just about how perfect everything is. How happy I am. How much I love you."

He stopped his kisses, pulling back to stare at me. "I love you. I love you with all of my heart and being." He laced his fingers with mine, bringing a hand up to kiss each of my fingertips.

His breath was warm and tickled my hand. "I love you, too; with everything that I am," I replied.

He smiled, pulling me back into him, closing his eyes once more. I halfheartedly struggled against him. "Chrom, as much as I would love to stay here forever, I need to go."

His grip wouldn't let up. "No, you don't."

I placed my palms against his chest, pushing myself up. "Chrom! I need to go!"

He sighed in annoyance, eyes snapping open. "Do you have somewhere to be this early in the morning?" he grumbled.

My cheeks flushed. "N-no! It's just that...well..." I gulped, my face heating up even more. "W-won't people be suspicious if they saw me leave your house at such an early hour...?"

He raised an eyebrow. "...I don't see why they would? We're mates."

"Yes, and?"

"And nothing," he muttered, busing himself by nuzzling his face into my hair. "Sure, we haven't made the proper announcement, but we're mates nonetheless."

What is he talking about? "...So you're saying that because we're mates, no one will have any suspicions if they see me leave your house?"

He pulled away, looking at me with a curious look. "Why do I have the feeling that your Human roots are causing your confusion?"

I sighed, leaning back on the bed. "Well...in Human culture, when you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you would propose. If the person you propose to says yes, then you become engaged. Even though you're in love and are getting married, you don't really live together. And if you see one person leaving the other's house at a very early hour, then...well, people get suspicious of things going on before marriage." Which I our case I suppose is kinda true.

"Really? Two lovers can't even be together when they want?"

"Yeah. Is that not what the Luna do?"

"No! How long does it take until engaged couples can be together?"

I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking. "Depends on when the wedding is. On average, it's about six months after the proposal is, sometime's longer."

Chrom slouched back onto the bed. "Gods, why do Humans want to keep couples away so desperately?!"

I laughed heartily, snuggling back into him. "I love you." I smiled.

He relented and pulled me back in, our legs tangling beneath the sheets. "I love you, too." He lightly gripped my chin with his hand, making me look up. Then, he leaned down and kissed me softly. I sighed in content, kissing him back and curling my arms around his neck. He pulled away wordlessly, tucking my head into the crook of his neck, tangling his hand in my hair, and resting his chin atop the crown of my head.

We laid there for a few minutes, Chrom lazily playing with the ends of my matted hair and me counting his breaths.

Then, I decided to speak up. "So, what now?" I rumbled, my body becoming irritated that I disrupted it from falling back asleep.

"What do you mean?" Chrom hummed, untangling a strand of my hair with his fingertips.

"I mean what do we do now that we're mates?" I asked once more. "Do we have a ceremony? Do we tell our friends? I'm still new to all of this."

He sighed sleepily, pondering the future himself. "...Well, we can have a ceremony to make the bond official. It's usually customary for there to be a bit of hype about it when it comes to royalty, but there's no need it to be a grand affair," he said. "We should tell our friends, definitely. Although, I suppose many of them already suspect or know. As for living arrangements, well, I can move into your place or you into mine, or we can find somewhere new to live altogether. Whatever you want." He paused for a moment. "Er, that is, if you want to. I don't want to sound like I'm rushing you into anything."

I remained silent, still counting his breaths. What do I want? It sounds like we can start our life together whenever we want. I mean, I didn't really know what to expect in the first place. I knew the Luna did this type of thing differently than humans, but still.

I love Chrom with everything that I am. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with him; to wake up to his face every morning. And if our souls are already bonded, then I don't know if I will be able to stay away from him for long, especially now. Besides, if we already know we're mates, then what's the point in prolonging starting our life together?

I drew in a deep breath, exhaling softly. "...Your place is closer to The Great Tree. It'll be easier to get there every single day. Plus, living in one of these solitary homes gives us more privacy." Chrom's house was built into a smaller tree, but spacious nonetheless. Due to the tree's shorter size, it could only contain one housing unit. It wasn't that high off the ground, as well. Now I wouldn't have a near panic attack whenever I walked up the stairs to my home.

I could feel Chrom smiling into my hair. "So be it, then. We can have your belongings shipped over here whenever."

Still, there was one more thought plaguing my mind. "...Chrom? If I'm your mate and you're a prince, does that make me..."

"A princess?" He answered for me. "Yes, it does. After we have the bond made official, you will be recognized as a princess of Ylisse."

I jolt of fear spiked through me. A princess... I'm going to be a princess... Holy gods, why had I not thought of this?!

Sensing my fear, Chrom folded me into a tighter embrace. "Shh... Don't be scared, love. It's all right. We can figure this out." He gently rubbed my back. "You'll make a fantastic princess! You care for the pack with all of your heart and are willing to fight to keep others safe! You're kind, understanding, smart beyond compare, and so much more! Please, trust me on this."

I didn't realize I was clutching him so tightly until just now. "I-I know... But I'm still scared. One second, you're a Human girl, then you're Luna, then you're mates with the Prince! I-I'm just overwhelmed."

Chrom sighed, heartbeat beginning to race. "Well... If you're that desperately scared and want a more mundane life, then I would be more than willing to step down from my duties as a prince and-"

"NO!" I suddenly blurted, pulling out of his embrace and cupping his face in my hands. "N-no... That's the opposite of what I want. Gods, Chrom, don't even say that! I know doing that would make you unhappy..."

He frowned. "Nothing makes me happier than you, Anna," he muttered, stormy gaze pleading. "Please, if you want me to revoke my title, just say the word and it's done."

I began to tremble. He's serious. He's actually serious. He is willing to give up everything just for me... To sacrifice his way of life so he can start one with me.

...I know what to do.

I pulled his face closer, my lips finding his. His hands rested on the small of my back, sending shivers up my spine. I finally pulled away and pressed my forehead against his. "You said you would be willing to step down as a prince to give me a normal and mundane life, correct?"

"Yes. 100%, if that is what you wish."

I smiled. "A normal life sounds boring. I like adventure; I like challenges," I said. "My curiosity always gets the better of me, and I'm curious to see how well I'll do as a princess. And if I don't have confidence in my abilities now, then I'll do what I do best: learn. In the end, it doesn't matter what our titles are. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy."

He swallowed, tears brimming in his eyes. Then, his lips were roughly on mine. This sudden burst of affection I was feeling shocked me. But, I soon came to accept it, allowing myself to lose myself in the kiss.

"I love you," he mumbled against my lips. "I will never tire of saying that. I will never tire of anything when it comes to you. You hold my heart in your hands and I trust no one else but you with it." He sprinkled more kisses on my face, like being separated was not an option. "This has all felt like a dream, and the fact that it is reality is still unbelievable. Never a day will go by where you're unhappy, I promise. You have given me so much light in my life, and it is only right that I return the favor."

I pushed myself off of him, much to his dismay - but his pouting face was very cute. "Chrom, you have given me more than I could ever ask for. I thank all my lucky stars that I met you," I said, picking up his hand and kissing his palm. "I'm still figuring out my life as I go, trying new things and seeing the world. I truly feel like my own person as a Luna. I may not be done figuring my life out, but will you be here to support me through it?"

"Of course, my love." He kissed my forehead. "In fact, I ask the same thing of you."

"You have my word."

He pulled me close once more, sighing contently. I snuggled into his warmth, finding myself wanting to fall back asleep like this. I was sure Chrom was in a similar state.

Maybe ten or fifteen minutes passed before one of us stirred. Chrom gave me a squeeze before getting up and peeling the blanket back. The sudden rush of cold air made me groan in protest. I glared up at my mate. "Chrooooom! I was almost asleep! And it's cold!"

He couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, love! But I actually have somewhere to be this early!" He tucked the blanket back around me. "You can sleep a little longer, though."

I huffed in annoyance, sitting up and keeping my bare skin covered by the blanket. "There's no point anymore. I won't be able to fall back asleep." I stuck my tongue out at him. "And where do you have to be at this time of day? The Shepherds don't meet until after sunrise."

He leaned towards me, running a hand through my hair and trying to get out any knots he missed. "I'm having breakfast with my sisters. We may live separately, but we always try to have breakfast together."

Oh. That makes sense. I sighed. I always liked it when he played with my hair; pleasantly tickling. "Right, of course." What else was I thinking? I enjoy making food and there will be plenty of opportunities for me to cook that are not breakfast.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, I know how much you love cooking." He silently cursed as he ran into a particularly tricky knot. "We can eat breakfast on our own whenever we feel like, or even better: invite my sisters over once and a while."

I smiled, genuinely feeling content with that compromise. "That sounds perfect."

Then, he suddenly perked up as he got that look in his eyes. He has an idea. Gods help us all. "Actually, why don't you come with me to The Great Tree?" he suggested. "I want Lissa and Emm to be the first wolves to know that we're mates, and this provides an ample opportunity to do that!"

I shrunk back, feeling sheepish. "I-I wouldn't want to disrupt your time as a family!"

He rolled his eyes. "Nonsense. They would be absolutely delighted to have you," he said, finally undoing the knot. "Besides, they already think of you as a sister."

My face flushed at his words. "R-really?"

"Really. They love you more than me." He pulled me into a hug. "But it's up to you. Do you want to go or not?"

I giggled, hugging him back. "I want to be there to see their reactions to the news." I pulled away, pecking his cheek and spying our night clothes that have long been thrown on the floor. "But can we go back to my place so I can get changed? I don't really think wearing a nightgown to breakfast with the royal family is the best idea."

Chrom laughed, voice full of mirth. "Of course, love. Of course."

...

The treck to The Great Tree felt like the longest one of my life. My skin was clammy, a rock settled in my stomach, and the feeling of tiny bugs crawling over me wouldn't disappear. Oh, gods... I can't do this! I just want to hide!

"If you keep wringing your hands like that, you're not going to have hands," Chrom chuckled. "Why don't you just let me hold one of them-"

"No! If we walk while holding hands, people will know we're mates!" I squeaked, keeping my hands to myself.

I heard Chrom let out an amused sigh. "Well, we can make the announcement after we tell my sisters. I suppose news of it will spread like wildfire, anyway."

As soon as we entered The Great Tree, my nerves got worse. No no no no no I'm not ready. I can't. I'm terrified. Oh, gods-

"Anna, I can sense your fear like it's my own. Calm down." Chrom placed a hand on my shoulder. "You already know my sisters. My sisters know you. They love you and everything will be fine."

The warmth of his hand calmed me down, but only a little. "Chrom..."

"Anna." He cupped my face. "Everything will be all right. I promise."

We somehow managed to make it to the dining area. I could hear Emmeryn and Lissa talking. Deep breaths. I can do this. I can do this. It's now or never.

As soon as we came into view, Lissa's head perked up. "There you are! We were starting to think you wouldn't show up!" she exclaimed.

Emmeryn turned to me. "Oh? Anna, what a pleasant surprise." She smiled. "What brings you here?"

NEVER MIND. I CAN'T DO THIS. "I-I, uh, w-w-well, you see... Um, I-I..."

Chrom chuckled to himself. Then, a wide grin spread on his face. "I decided to bring Anna along with me because...well," he wrapped an arm around my waist, "we're mates."

Before I could feel any kind of emotion, Lissa shot out of her seat and barreled at me at full speed. "I KNEW IT!!!!!!!" She threw her arms around me, almost knocking me to the floor. "I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! THAT VERY FIRST DAY WE FOUND YOU, I KNEW CHROM WAS INTERESTED IN YOU! I KNEW YOU WERE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY! I. KNEW. IT."

"Lissa...I...can't...breathe..." Despite my lack of oxygen, I hugged the young princess back.

Chrom looked slightly concerned. "Er, Lissa? Please don't kill her." He tried to pry me away from his sister's death grip, but that only resulted in her dragging him into the hug.

"I always knew that you two had a special bond. I'm so glad I was correct," Emmeryn giggled, walking over to us. "I wish you two eternal happiness." She joined the hug. "Welcome to our family, Anna."

And those five words were music to my ears.

*****
Ok. So I think THIS was my favorite chapter to write. I love these two so much and I'm very happy they're mates now. Go me. XD Prepare for nonstop fluff for a hot minute. We're gonna need it for when crap hits the fan. I mean what? XD Thank you so much for reading and look forward to reading more!

Link: https://youtu.be/VgyUjVhs6Ik